HC Deb 12 July 1972 vol 840 cc385-6W
Mr. Gorst

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury keeps records of information received regarding bankruptcies or the liquidation of companies whose activities make them liable to the payment of gaming machine licence duty; and what are the total number of liquidations and bankruptcies in each financial year since gaming machine licence duty was introduced.

Mr. Higgins

No. This information is not available.

Mr. Gorst

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many premises, not having local authority approval, have gaming machine licences for more than two machines; and what would be the cost of exempting from gaming machine licence duty those machines not actually provided for use.

Mr. Higgins

The latest available figure is 127. Where gaming machines are made available for play, all gaming machines on the premises are dutiable. This legal requirement is intended to protect the Revenue, and the direct cost of its repeal, which would be small, is therefore not the primary consideration.

Mr. Gorst

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of exempting penny machines from gaming licence duty.

Mr. Higgins

About £1 million a year.